Selectors keep Harbhajan Singh in the cold

Once spinners Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin made most of their opportunities in the Test series against the West Indies, the door for a flight to Australia was shut on Harbhajan Singh. Amol Karhadkar reports. Zaheer in, Bhajji out | Squad

Once spinners Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin made most of their opportunities in the Test series against the West Indies, the door for a flight to Australia was shut on Harbhajan Singh.

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And it was confirmed on Saturday that the off-spinner, India's leading wicket-taker among active cricketers, will not be part of the 17-member squad for the four-Test series that starts on December 26.

"Unfortunately, we cannot help it as the team selects itself. In Australia, you cannot have more than two spinners. Ojha and Ashwin are doing an excellent job," selection committee chairman K Srikkanth said.

"Sometimes it becomes bad luck, sometimes people miss out. I'm sure everyone has their own time and space to come back."

Zak in, provisionally
As it was reported by HT on Monday, pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, on a comeback following an ankle surgery, will have to prove his fitness for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy against Orissa (in Cuttack from November 29) and Saurashtra (in Rajkot from December 6) to make the trip.

The selectors picked eight batsmen, two specialist wicketkeepers, two spinners and five pacemen.